Kazuki sat in his small, cluttered apartment, staring at the system interface that floated before him. The glowing text hovered ominously in the air, the words burning into his mind:
[Task: Kiss a girl within three days. Failure to complete the task will result in immediate penalties.]
This was the most challenging task the system had assigned him so far. The earlier tasks had been difficult, requiring him to make brief physical contact with various girls, but a kiss was a significant escalation. Still, Kazuki felt no moral conflict, no second-guessing—just a determination to succeed. He knew that failing was not an option, especially after the intense training and the close calls he had experienced in previous tasks.
Kazuki's mind immediately went to Rina Yoshida. She was shy, introverted, and had slowly begun to open up to him over the past few days. Their interactions had grown more frequent, and while she still kept her distance from most people, Kazuki had managed to build a small bridge between them. The idea of kissing her was daunting, but he knew she was his best chance to complete the task without drawing too much suspicion.
The system had given him several tools to assist in his mission, including a boost to his charisma and the ability to become temporarily invisible. These abilities had proven invaluable in his previous tasks, allowing him to maneuver through tricky situations with relative ease. Now, he would need to use them more skillfully than ever to create the perfect opportunity for the kiss.
As Kazuki weighed his options, the system chimed in with a smug tone, its female voice laced with playful teasing. "Oh, Kazuki, you've come so far, haven't you? But this task is different, more intimate. Are you ready to take that next step? Or will you fail and find yourself in even deeper trouble?"
Kazuki clenched his fists. The system's constant taunting had become a regular part of his life, but he had learned to tune it out. Instead, he focused on the task at hand. "I'll complete this task, just like all the others," he muttered to himself. "No problem."
With his resolve set, Kazuki began to plan. He knew that Rina would be the key to completing this task, but getting close enough to kiss her without raising her suspicions would be a delicate balancing act. He would need to create situations where they could be alone, where the kiss could happen naturally, without her feeling threatened or uncomfortable.
The next day, Kazuki made sure to arrive at school early. He had mapped out Rina's usual routine in his mind, knowing when she would be in class, when she would visit the library, and when she would eat lunch. If he could position himself strategically throughout the day, he would increase his chances of getting closer to her.
The first opportunity came during their shared literature class. Rina sat near the back of the room, as usual, her attention focused on the book in front of her. Kazuki, who had been gradually moving his seat closer to hers over the past few days, was now only a few rows away. As the class began, Kazuki kept glancing at Rina, trying to catch her eye.
Rina, however, was completely absorbed in her book, her long black hair falling like a curtain around her face. Kazuki admired her quiet beauty, the way she seemed to exist in a world of her own. It was one of the things that had initially drawn him to her—she was different from the other girls, more mysterious and elusive. But it was also what made his task so difficult. How could he break through that barrier she had built around herself?
As the lecture droned on, Kazuki noticed an opportunity. The teacher was discussing a complex poem, and he could see that Rina was deep in thought, her brow furrowed as she tried to grasp the meaning behind the words. Kazuki raised his hand and offered his interpretation of the poem, deliberately making a point that he knew would resonate with Rina's sensibilities.
Sure enough, Rina glanced up, her eyes meeting Kazuki's for a brief moment. He gave her a small, encouraging smile, and she hesitated before offering a slight nod of acknowledgment. It was a small victory, but Kazuki knew that every little interaction counted. He needed to build trust with her, to make her feel comfortable around him.
After class, Kazuki lingered by the door, waiting for Rina to leave. When she finally did, he fell into step beside her, keeping his pace casual. "That was an interesting discussion, wasn't it?" he said, trying to sound as natural as possible.
Rina looked at him, surprised that he was talking to her outside of class. "Yes, it was," she replied softly. "I hadn't thought about the poem in that way before."
Kazuki seized the opportunity to keep the conversation going. "I've always liked poetry," he said. "It's like a puzzle, trying to figure out what the poet was really trying to say. Do you read a lot of poetry?"
Rina hesitated, then nodded. "Sometimes. I like how it makes me think, how it forces me to see things from different perspectives."
Kazuki smiled. "Exactly. That's what I love about it too." He could see that Rina was starting to relax a little, the initial awkwardness fading. He knew he needed to keep this momentum going, to find more opportunities to talk to her and slowly build a connection.
Over the next couple of days, Kazuki made a point of interacting with Rina whenever he could. He sat near her during lunch, struck up conversations between classes, and even offered to help her with a project in the library. Each interaction was carefully calculated to bring him closer to his goal, but he knew he couldn't rush things. He had to make the kiss feel natural, like something that would happen between two people who were gradually getting to know each other.
Meanwhile, Kenta Watanabe continued to hang around Kazuki, offering his own brand of advice. "So, you're trying to get close to that shy girl, huh?" Kenta said one day as they walked home from school. "You gotta be careful with those types. They're like scared rabbits—one wrong move, and they'll bolt."
Kazuki nodded, pretending to take Kenta's advice seriously. In truth, he had already figured out that being too forward with Rina would only scare her off. Still, he appreciated Kenta's input, even if it was often crude and misguided. Kenta had become an unexpected ally in Kazuki's quest, and his street smarts had proven useful on more than one occasion.
As the deadline for the task approached, Kazuki knew he had to make his move soon. He had built enough rapport with Rina that she no longer seemed uncomfortable around him, but he still hadn't found the right moment to kiss her. The system's reminders were becoming more frequent, a constant buzz in the back of his mind that he couldn't ignore.
Finally, on the third day, Kazuki decided to create the perfect opportunity. He had learned that Rina often visited a quiet spot on campus during her free period, a secluded garden where she liked to read. Kazuki planned to join her there, using the peaceful setting to his advantage.
When he arrived at the garden, he found Rina sitting on a bench, her book open in her lap. She looked up as Kazuki approached, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Kazuki? What are you doing here?" she asked.
Kazuki smiled, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible. "I was just taking a walk and saw you here. Mind if I join you?"
Rina hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Sure, I don't mind."
Kazuki sat down beside her, his heart pounding in his chest. This was it—the moment he had been waiting for. He needed to act carefully, to make the kiss seem like a natural progression of their growing friendship.
They talked for a while, discussing the book Rina was reading and the upcoming exams. Kazuki kept the conversation light, steering it toward topics that he knew would keep Rina at ease. He could feel the tension building, the anticipation of what he was about to do.
Finally, when the conversation lulled, Kazuki decided to make his move. He leaned in slightly, his voice soft and earnest. "You know, Rina, I've really enjoyed getting to know you these past few days. You're different from anyone I've met before."
Rina looked at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "Kazuki…"
Before she could say anything else, Kazuki closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was brief, just a few seconds, but it was enough. Rina froze for a moment, clearly shocked, but she didn't pull away.
When Kazuki finally drew back, he saw that Rina's cheeks were flushed, her eyes a mix of confusion and something else—something he couldn't quite place. "I'm sorry," he said quickly, trying to sound sincere. "I didn't mean to—"
"It's okay," Rina interrupted, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked away, clearly embarrassed, but she didn't seem angry.
Kazuki breathed a sigh of relief. The task was complete, and Rina didn't seem to be upset. He had managed to pull it off, just as he had with all the other tasks before. The system chimed in, congratulating him on his success and awarding him with a significant boost to his charisma and a minor increase in his luck.
As Kazuki walked away from the garden, he couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. He had done it—he had
kissed Rina without ruining the relationship they had begun to build. The system had been right to trust him with this task.
But as he made his way back to his apartment, Kazuki couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The system had hinted that the tasks would become more difficult and morally challenging, and he knew that he would need to be prepared for whatever came next.
For now, though, he allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. He had completed the task, and the rewards had been worth the effort. Kazuki knew that as long as he kept following the system's guidance, he would continue to grow stronger, more skilled, and more capable of handling whatever challenges lay ahead.